Madras men report assault by masked gunmen demanding cash, drugs

Madras police said they are looking for four men, at least two of them armed, who allegedly entered two men’s home early Thursday morning, demanded money and drugs, assaulted them and stole a pickup truck and other items.

The abandoned pickup truck was found around noon on a canal road near Depot Lane in Madras, about four miles from where it was reported stolen, Police Chief Tanner Stanfill.

Madras officers, assisted by Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies, were dispatched around 2:30 a.m. to the assault call in the 700 block of Northeast Lakeside Drive, Stanfill said.

The two residents, both 36 years old, said four Hispanic men came into the house demanding money and drugs. The two victims also are Hispanic and were interviewed with the help of interpreters, the police chief said.

The two men denied drug use or possession and said they did not know why the suspects targeted them or their home, Stanfill said in a news release.

Stanfill said there was no apparent forced entry into the home, while the victims said they usually keep the doors locked.

The suspects were reported to have used masks to conceal their faces and all were wearing dark clothing, the police chief said, adding that the two victims said they did not recognize any of the men.

They were reported to vary in height, between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall, of average build and unknown ages. They were reported to have at least one pistol and one rifle.

One of the suspects used a blunt object to strike one victim, who had a cut on his head and arm. The other man said he also was struck in the head, causing a minor injury, police said.

The suspects took a small amount of cash, keys, some jewelry and a gold 2000 GMC Sierra pickup that Stanfill said had been driven off the side of a canal road, where it was stuck in loose dirt. It had nearly rolled, due to the steep incline, and was towed to be processed for any potential evidence.

The two victims were taken by Jefferson County EMS to St. Charles Madras, which was put in lockdown temporarily as a precaution. They were treated and released, the police chief said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Madras Police Officer Isiah Duarte and 541-475-2424